Ignition system for explosion-engines.



No. 846,811. PATENTED MAR. 12, 1907.

R. VARLEY. IGNITION SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION ENGINES.

APPLIGATION FILED NOV. 3, 1906.

rmrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD VARLEY, OF ENGLEVVOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOCOILCOMPANY, A CORPORA TIQN NEW JERSEY.

IGNITION SYSTEM FOR EXPLOSION-ENGINES.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented March 12, 1907.

Application filed. November 3, 1906. Serial No. 341,925.

of New Jersey, have invented certain new a and useful Improvements inIgnition Sysby which the adjustment of all the vibrators vibrator.

tems for Explosion-Engines, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to ignition systems for explosion-engines, andpertains specially to a means for economizing battery-current, while atthe same time enabling the best results to be secured.

It is a fact that the quantity of current taken by vibrator or tremblercoils varies greatly according to the adjustment of the If thevibrator-contact is screwed down fairly hard, the coil takes from 013 to1.5 amperes; but if the contact is only screwed down slightly only 0.1or 0.2 will be used. Of course a hotter ignition-spark is obtained withthe large current consumption; but in ordinary running the low currentgives sufficiently perfect results and at the same time saves thebattery and minimizes wear of the vibrators and the commutator. Incarrying out my invention I provide means can be simultaneously made andthe resultant. current indicated. This arrangement is found to satisfy aserious need when used with a motor vehicle. For example, in

starting a motor-vehicle the mixture is poor and cold and is not ignitedeasily. At this time the ignition system should therefore be adjustedfor the strongest spark obtainable. Thisshould also be done in hillclimbing, because the compression is higher and more energy is re uired tofire a highlycompressed charge t an one only moderately compressed.Moreover, the power is largely dependent on exact firing, and this canonly be had by perfect ignition. On the other hand, it is oftendesirable to weaken the spark. For example, if one cylinder missesoccasionally it becomes necessary to locate Which cylinder is missing,and it generally happens that when the clutch is slipped and the enginerunning idly for the purpose of testing out the cylinders the faulttemporarily'disappears, due to the light compression under thesecircumstances. The vibrators would therefore be'simultaneously adjustedto give inder will miss and be located.- In running along a level roadthe requirements for power are not large, and the light compressionrenders a feeble ignition perfectly effective. Moreover, there is agreater dwell or duration of the spark cascade at. moderate speeds.Therefore at this time the adjustment would be made to economize thebattery. times whether an imperfectly-working engine is losing power byreason of the valves or the ignition, By manipulating'the devices of myinvention hereinafter described ignition-sparks at will, so as to notethe effect on the engine, and thereby ascertain whether it is theignition or the valves or mixture which is at fault.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a coil-boxembodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front view of thesame. Fig, 3 is a digram of the electrical circuits.

The induction-coils 1 are contained in a box or casing 2 of the ordinaryform. Each induction-coil has an ordinary vibrator or trembler 3, thecontacts of which are adjustable by thumb-screws 4. These features arethe ordinary construction of coil-box and form no part of my presentinvention. The top surface of each of the thumb-screws 4 receives an arm5, angularly adjustable thereon in any suitable way. A convenientarrangement is the one shown, where the arms?) are slotted at 6 andreceived under a small machine-screw 7, axially threaded into the top ofthe thumb-screw 4.

way the arms 5 may be tightly held upon the upper surface of thethumb-screw in any desired angular relation. The outer ends of the arms5 are also provided with slots 8, and these slots cooperate with pins.9on a longitudinally-sliding bar 10, of insulating material. This bar 10extends entirely across the top of the coil-box, being mounted in theguides 11, so as to be capable of a to-andfro sliding movement. Thearrangement is such that when the bar 10 is slid to and fro the arms 5are all swung angularly in one direction or the other and incorresponding amounts, according to the motion of the bar 10. Theangular motion of" these .arms is directly transmitted to thevibrator-screws a'feeble ignition-spark, so that the weak cyl-,

It is also important to determine at In this ICC 4, which are therebyalt adjusted to substantially the same amount and in the same direction.I provide means by which the bar 10 may he slid to and fro either byhand or automatically, as desired. For this purpose I have shown handles12 at both ends of the bar and a lever-arm .13, having a pin-and-slotconnection 14 with the bar and fixed to a shaft 15, which projectsupward on the dashboard fromthe floor of the car. This shaft has anysuitable link connection (not shown) with the muffler cut-out or anyother controlling parts, whereby the bar 1 3 may be thrown to increasethe current of the various coils whenever the muflier cut-out is opened,as is ordinaril done in hill-climbing. In combination with the above Iemploy an 'ammeter 16, which may be conveniently attached to the frontof the coil-box. This ammeter operates in connection with the vibratoradjustment, by means of which the results mentioned at the beginning ofthis specification are at tained.

The operation is as follows: The battery B is connected with theprimaries of the vari ous coils 0 through the ammeter 16, the coilsbeing also connected to the usual commutator M, by which they aresuccessively grounded, so as to complete the circuit and induce asecondary discharge through. the sparkplugs of the engine. The vibrators3 of the various induction-coilsare initiall adjusted by setting theengine at a sparing position and adjusting the vibrator of theoperating-coil so as to produce any predetermined reading-say 0.3ampere.v This being done for all the coils, it is merely necessary totighten the various screws 7, whereupon the apparatus is ready for use.When the engine starts running, the reading will be about 0.2 ampere,depending on the' length of dwell of the timer-segments, so that all thecoils together draw only two-thirds the current any one of them useswhen working continuously. The arnmeter would there- This is suflicient\Vhen a hill is fore indicate 0.2 ampere. for ignition on level roads.

encountered, the sliding bar 1.0 is moved over so as to give a hotterignition, and this can always be done at any moment when power is neededor when it is found the engine is not working perfectly satisfacmrily.Thus not only is the battery-current greatly economized and the burningof the commutatorsegments prevented and fusing of the platinum vibratorcontacts minimized, but a means is provided for readily indicatingengine and ignition troubles, for making all necessary adjustments ofthe vibrators, and for continuously showing the condition of thebatteries.

An important feature of the invention res lates to the way in which aperfect circuit their connected parts or terminals. Since thevibrator-screws work in an oily guide or hearing, it is desirable tohave means independent of such bearing for establishing the electricalcircuit therewith. For this purpose I employ flexible leads 17, whichare soldered to the arms 5 and t0 the bearing or guide 18, in which thevibrator-screws move. Since the arms 5 never have more than a certainlimited angular movement, these flexible leads answer perfectly for allrequire ments.

WVhat I claim is 1. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, alurality of vibrator induction-coils having t ir primaries connected toa common circuit, and means for simultaneously increasing the currentreceived by said coils.

2. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, a plurality of,vibratorinduction-coils having their primaries connected to a common circuit,means for separately adjusting the coils to take a predeterminedcurrent, and means for simultaneously adjusting the coils whereby suchcurrent is varied in corresponding amounts in all the coils.

3. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, a pluralityof vibratorinducti0n-coils having their primaries connected to a common circuit,and means for separately adjusting the vibrators of the coils, and meansfor simultaneously adjusting the vibrators of all the coils incorresponding amounts and di; rections.

4. In an ignition system for explosion-em gines, a plurality of coilshaving vibratorscrews, an arm adjustably. attached to saidvibrator-screws, and a sliding rod connected to said arms and adapted toswing all of them through a corresponding angle when it is shifted.

5. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, a plurality of vibratorinduction-coils having their primaries connected to a com mon circuit,an ammeter in such circuit, and means for simultaneously adjusting thevibrators of all the coils.

6. In an ignition system for explosion an gines, a plurality of vibratorinduction-coils having their primaries connected to a coinniori circuit,an ammeter in such circuit, and means for simultaneously adjusting thevibrators of all the coils in corresponding amounts and directions.

, 7. In an ignition system for explosion-en: gines, a plurality ofinduction-coils having their primaries connected to a common source ofbattery-current, an ammeter in circuit therewith, and means forautomatically adjusting the vibrators of all the coils to take morecurrent when the engine is manipulated to obtain more power.

8. In an ignition system for explosion-en l gines, a plurality ofvibrator induction-coils is insured between the vibrator-screws and lhaving their primaries connected to a comj ustinent,

mon circuit, and means conneu ted with the muflier cut-out of the enginefor simultane- E ously adjusting the vibrators of all the coils.

9. In an ignition's'ystem for explosion-engines, a plurality ofcoilshaving vibratorscrews, an arm .adjustably'attaelied to saidvibrator-screws, a sliding'rod connected to said arms and adapted toswing all of them through a correspqnding. angle when it is shifted, andan ammeter in circuit ith'all cf the coils to indicate the conditionIofthe ad 10. In an ignition system for explosion-engines, a plurality ofcoils each having a vibrator-screw, an arm adjustable on said vigbrator-screws, and flexible primary-circuit leads attached to said arms.

i- Inwitness whereof I subscribeiny signal ture in the presence oftwoWitnesses.

l RICHARD 'VARLEY.

Witnesses: I v FRANK S. OBER,

1 WALDO M. CHAPIN.

